Could scientistis finally cure HIV in 2013? A group of Danish scientists say an antidote might be just around the corner. It's possible this medical breakthrough in "finding a mass-distributable and affordable cure to HIV" could arrive in just a few months.
The Danish scientists are in the midst of clinical trials, testing their strategy on humans, in an attempt to cure the virus that can develop into AIDS. Their approach involves stripping HIV from human DNA and destroying it for good by using the body's immune system. Promisingly, their technique has already been shown to be effective in laboratory tests.
Scientists working on the "novel strategy" discharge HIV from the reservoirs formed inside DNA, bringing the virus to the cell's surface. A vaccine is then utilized to help the body's immune system kill the virus.
Dr. Ole Søgaard, member of the research team and researcher at the Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark, says that early signs of testing are encouraging.
"I am almost certain that we will be successful in releasing the reservoirs of HIV," he said.
"The challenge will be getting patients' immune system to recognize the virus and destroy it. This depends on the strength and sensitivity of individual immune systems."
There are 15 patients currently participating in the clinical trials, but if the "cure" proves successful then the treatment would be applied to a larger sample size.
However, despite the promising results coming from the new research, Søgaard still stresses the importance of preventing HIV infection.
Søgaard added that a cure is different from a preventative vaccine and that raising awareness about unsafe behavior such as unprotected sex and sharing needles is still of the utmost importance in the battle against HIV.